Following the start of operations at the Dangote refinery, the Airlines Operators of Nigeria has confirmed a reduction in the price of aviation fuel in the country.
This development was achieved after the association met with
the management team of the Dangote group to discuss bottlenecks making the
important commodity expensive with a backlash of increased airfares.
Since the end of the fuel subsidy regime in the country over
a year ago, the prices of all petroleum products have skyrocketed.
In February, airline operators lamented the skyrocketing
price of aviation fuel, describing the development as critical and requiring
immediate government intervention to prevent the collapse of their operations.
The airlines also said that the fluctuation in forex rates
and the soaring cost of aviation fuel, which was N1,300 per litre at that time
disrupted operational planning and stability within the aviation sector.
In April, Dangote announced a price reduction for diesel and
aviation fuel.
According to Dangote, aviation was slashed to N940 per
litre.
The company added that the reduction applied to customers
buying five million litres and above from the refinery, while customers buying
one million litres and above would pay N970 per litre.
Speaking on the development in a statement posted on the
Dangote website, the Head of Communication, Anthony Chiejina, explained that
the new price aligned with the company’s commitment to cushion the effect of
economic hardship on Nigerians.
He said, “I can confirm to you that Dangote Petroleum
Refinery has entered a strategic partnership with MRS Oil and Gas stations, to
ensure that consumers get to buy fuel at affordable prices, in all their
stations be it Lagos or Maiduguri. You can buy as low as 1 litre of diesel at
N1,050 and aviation fuel at N980 at all major airports where MRS operates.”
He further stated that the partnership would be extended to
other major oil marketers. “The essence of this is to ensure that retail buyers
do not buy at exorbitant prices,” he explained.
The spokesperson of AON, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, confirmed the
reduction in the price of JetA1 to The PUNCH but refused to give data to back
up the claim.
“AON has met with the team of management at Dangote Group,
and we discussed issues with them and they have been yielding.
“As for price, we don’t have any control over the price. We
only rely on him (Dangote) to give us the most reasonable price. We understand
that this thing fluctuates considering naira to the dollar and the value of
coal. Now we have noticed some reduction compared to when we were buying from
other marketers,” he noted.
Effort to get the amount reduced by the refining company,
the AON publicist refused further comment.
He said, “I am not the accountant, I can’t give figures now
please.”
However, the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Ado
Sanusi, differed with the submission of the AON publicist, saying he was not
aware of any deduction.
He added that the airline had continued to buy aviation fuel
between N1,000 and N1,200.
“I am not aware of any form of reduction in the price of our
fuel. We still buy between N1000 and N1,200. Anybody can claim. Please, quote
them and quote me that I am not aware of any price reduction,” he asserted.